Tag: social media marketing

There is a big difference between using Twitter for business and using Twitter for business effectively. In other words, you cannot expect to create a profile, send out a few tweets here and there, and gain a huge following. Despite the crazy growth of Twitter over the past couple of years, things just don’t work this way.

Do I really even need a Twitter account? There is no rule saying your business has to use this social media service. Neglecting to do so, however, could be costing you a lot of money.

Before we get into the seven tweet types you should be using, let’s take a closer look at a few stats that are sure to get you excited:

42 percent of users rely on Twitter to learn more about products and services

Are you beginning to get the point? Are you beginning to see that using Twitter for business is one of the best ways to connect with potential buyers?

Try these Tweet Types

Now that you know the stats and understand why you should be using Twitter, the time has come for you to formulate a strategy. This leads to one very important question: what types of tweets are you going to send out to followers? You don’t want to take a “scatter gun” approach, hoping that something eventually sticks.

Here are seven tweet types that allow you to better engage with followers, attract a new audience, increase interaction, and much more. And if you need a little motivation, we have included a tweet that fits the mold of each type.

Make an Announcement

Did you recently release a new product or service? Did you receive an award from an industry organization? Did you hire a key employee? Did you open a new office?

There are many types of announcements you can make, all of which will be of great interest to your audience.

State an Interesting Fact

There is nothing wrong with using Twitter as a teaching platform, especially if you have an interesting fact to share. This can be related to your business, your industry, or another generalized topic.

Just the same as asking a question, when you share interesting facts you can expect others to chime in. Again, anything that has the potential to stir up a conversation is worth tweeting to your audience.

#DidYouKnow the 140 character limit on tweets was due to SMS character limitations, when Twitter’s founders were tweeting using SMS service?

Solve a Problem, Answer a Question

Do you ever take the time to read what your followers are saying? If not, you are missing out on a great opportunity to solve a problem or answer somebody’s question.

As your followers grow, so does the chance that you will come across somebody asking a question that you can answer. By doing so, this person is going to give you many thanks. On top of this, you are sure to stick in the back of their mind.

Promote a Blog Post

If you are the type who is using Twitter for business you are probably the type who realizes the benefits of maintaining a high quality corporate blog.

While you are sure to drum up interest for each blog post in a variety of ways, don’t overlook the benefits of tweeting the URL to your followers. This is a particularly good idea if past blog posts have been retweeted without your prompting.

Tip: there is nothing wrong with promoting a blog post, but you don’t want to take things too far. This is not something you want to do day in and day out, as your audience will eventually become “blind” to what you are saying.

Are you doing the Right Thing?

Even if you experiment with the seven tweet types detailed above, you may wonder if you are doing the right thing. Here are three ways to determine if your tweets are bringing value to your followers:

Are others retweeting what you have to say? If so, you know you are doing something right. Take note of which tweets are receiving the most retweets, and then focus more on these types in the future.

Your followers are responding to your tweets, especially when you ask a question. If your primary goal is to increase interaction, chart how many people respond to your tweets and what they have to say.

Did anybody like it enough to click “favorite?” Just the same as retweets and responses, when somebody “favorites” your tweet it shows that they really like what you had to say.

There used to be a time when many businesses did not fully understand the benefits of using Twitter. Guess what? Those days are long gone. In today’s world, if you aren’t using Twitter you are missing out on a big opportunity while probably losing ground to your competitors.

If the time has come for your business to take full advantage of Twitter, the seven tweet types detailed above will help you hit the ground running.

Unless your new business venture involves a branch campus of the Illuminati, you probably want your small business to get noticed. So what do you do? Set up your business in a high-traffic area? Great. Get a big sign? Fantastic. Set up your website and social media sites? Even better.

While many small businesses consider this a great place to stop, they don’t realize that they are actually missing a very crucial element.

According to a recent study done by GE Capital Retail Bank, 81% of consumers will engage in online research before making a major purchase, a number that is up by 20% from 2012.

This means two things for you, the small business owner. First, you need people to find your company amidst their research. Second, they need to like what they see. But how do you do that? How do you differentiate yourself from other companies that are in a similar field and make your business more visible?

Thankfully, the answer is not as elusive as it may feel, and doesn’t involve spending copious amounts of marketing cash or hiring a pothead teenager to spin your sign on a street corner. Simply put, start a blog.

Not the answer you were expecting (or wanting)? Before you begin throwing rotten cabbage at me, please consider a few things. As much as we enjoy Mad Men, marketing has taken a dramatic shift in the 21st Century. Our means of connection and interaction have moved to the digital universe, and thus, we need to meet our customers there.

If you are aspiring to grow your small business and beat out the competition, blogging is a non-negotiable. Below are 4 reasons your small business needs a blog… right away.

1. Search Engines Will Love You

Teenage romance movies seem to be all the rage these days. If you have seen any of these movies, you notice a trend. Though the themes may change (vampires, sports, inner-city life), the plot basically stays the same:

We are introduced to a socially-outcast girl at a local high school

We also meet a handsome boy (often a jock) at the same high school

Socially-outcast girl makes a reference to an upcoming prom and how she plans on not attending

Due to some unforeseen incident, the boy and girl have to partner together in a class

Both hate each other and frown upon the others social identity

Through shared experiences and time together, they soften toward one another

At the night of the big dance, socially-outcast girl shows up without glasses and in a beautiful dress

Boy realizes that he loves her, renounces his prom king award, cheerleader girlfriend and Princeton scholarship (that dad forced on him) and confesses his affections to her

If Google is the handsome jock, then your small business needs to be the prettiest girl at the dance, and blogging will help get it there!

Search engines love fresh content. As you add new and regular content to your website, search engines will begin to move you higher on their results page. Is your website regularly getting new content or is it stale? If you want to be seen you need new (and regular) content!

Your blog is the easiest and most effective way to regularly add content to your website. This isn’t a ‘one and done’ exercise. You need to be consistent with your posting. It may feel daunting, but your business will thank you for it.

When your company begins to embraces blogging, not only will customers be able to find you more easily, they will also be able to find you more often. The reason is simple: diversification.

When you regularly post to your company’s blog, you are creating another opportunity for potential customers to come across your website. The reason is twofold:

More Posts = More Search Engine Results

Let’s say that you run an independent insurance company and recently set up a website. At that point, your only hope of being found online is if a customer Google’s “insurance company [your city]”.

However, if your company is also embraces blogging, you make yourself more available. A certain customer may have never heard of your insurance company, but when they Google “Should I use an independent insurance agent” they will likely find an article about that subject… written on your website. Why? Because you are blogging about your business and industry. In an instant, you went from an unknown company to an entity that is educating someone as to why they should use your services.

More Posts = More Social Media Exposure

On top of search engine results, regular blogging will also give you a stage on various social media sites.

How?

One of the keys of good marketing is networking. If you want to see more success in your business, you need to connect with other people that will help your company grow. Since the rise of social media, this has never been easier.

As your company begins to take advantage of blogging, it would benefit your company to show its blog posts on your social media sites.

Not only does your network of peers get to see your work, but they may also share your post with others who may be interested as well. Going back to the 81% of people who do online research before purchases, testimonials and personal endorsements via “sharing” a post goes a long way.

Additionally, your blog can even begin to collect a following of readers and subscribers. This will drive regular traffic to your website via dedicated followers.

3. You Establish Expertise

Here’s some truth: In order to be trusted by the public, your business needs to prove itself. And that’s fair. You may know that you are one of the best in your field, but that doesn’t mean much to the consumer. If you want the public to give you their business, you need to show them why.

Can you guess what the remedy might be? Yep, blogging!

Blogging is one of the best platforms you have as you seek to display your expertise. Write about your industry, whether it is current events, ‘how-to’s’, tutorials, helpful advice or things of the like. And do it often. Show your customers that you are well versed in your field.

But be careful. If you’re attempting to build your credibility and expertise (which you should), make sure that you are giving correct information. Your credibility can take a huge hit if you are known to supply shoddy work. Remember, trust is hard to gain and easy to lose.

4. A Blog Gives Your Business a “Personality”

Not only will a blog help get your company noticed, it can also help put your customers at ease. For many people who fear the unknown, even walking into an unfamiliar business can be anxiety-provoking. What can you do to help?

Keeping a regularly updated blog can help to set a tone for your business that will benefit customers. As you blog about current events happening in your store and in your industry, as well as ‘how-to’s’ and other relevant topics, do not be afraid to infuse some personality. Not only does this make good writing, it also helps your customers feel comfortable with you and your company.

Moving Forward

The idea of starting a company blog can feel daunting; that is understandable. Amidst all of the other work you have to put into your business, writing a blog can feel like a hassle. But the truth is, you can’t afford not to blog. If you are seeking to be found and noticed on the internet, a blog is necessary.

If you really feel like you do not have time to blog, hope is not lost! There are still avenues you can take to have a thriving blog:

Delegate writing responsibilities to a trusted employee

If your budget allows, hire a freelance writer(s)

Consider posting on a regular, but less frequent, basis (2-4 times a month)

So if you’re ready, take the plunge today and start your business blog! We want to hear your feedback. How has your small business benefited from blogging? Please leave a comment and share your experience with us!